How to make a consist on a Roco Z21. 03-01-2024

[@delphjunction1168]

Hi Graham. What a beautiful looking train that is. Technology way above my head. Just love looking at your fantastic layout. Stay safe buddy. Pete.

[@GrahamFoulston]

Hi Pete and thank you for the kind comment mate, I knew absolutely zero about DCC stuff when I first started my layout 10 years ago, it was all mumbo jumbo to me but just using it first hand and looking at other videos then it gradually became clearer - still learning even today though! 😂. Cheers. …………Graham

[@philipbancroft]

A very good looking train on a very good looking layout. Good work.

[@GrahamFoulston]

Thank you very much Philip and pleased that you like the video, it’s much appreciated sir. 👍🏻. Cheers. …………..Graham

[@johnodonoghue7381]

It's great to see you're still resolute Graham, well done great video

[@GrahamFoulston]

Thank you John and indeed, I’m certainly resolute these days when it comes to my layout! 👍🏻. Cheers. ………..Graham

[@yorwerthedwards1045]

Great job Graham as usual love it 😊

[@GrahamFoulston]

Thank you my friend and it’s greatly appreciated too. 👍🏻. Cheers. …………Graham

[@IanCurrey]

I TOTALLY get the “I like it that way round” thing. I don’t like the ‘back’ side of the buffet car so run it the ‘other way round’ so I can see inside. I finally solved the problem by building in a turn back loop on each lend of the layout so that they run both ways round. My issue is that I can’t get them to run up hill very nicely but that I’ll solve too by not being silly with gradient. LOVE your attitude. Keep it up.

[@GrahamFoulston]

Hi Ian and thank you for the kind comment, I don’t have the room for a loop on this layout as that would indeed solve things like this I guess, so I just have to resolve the issue by being a little pedantic in my attitude which I know that some folk don’t like but that’s tough! 😉. Cheers. ………Graham

[@raymondleggs5508]

I run my consists the way I want where it's "right" or not as in rea life they probably ran it the other way round at some point. Or a DR steam loco probably did act as a helper for a DB eurocity train in the early 90s due to the fact that Germany didn't fully end Steam until 1994! Poland around 1996! And Bosnia Still runs steam freight.

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Great how-to video, Graham! Similar to the Central Station 3 I use in theory, but I have never tried it myself!

[@GrahamFoulston]

Hi Anthony and thank you for the comment, I would think that most controllers these days allow you to make a consist up but obviously all slightly different on how you set them up - but hopefully the end result is the same! 👍🏻. Cheers. ………..Graham

[@richardsweeney197]

Very well done! Thank you for showing us. You and the L.N.E.R. they always ran Gresley Teaks corridor side facing inland and compartments facing the shore for better viewing for their patrons on the East Coast Main Line. You can claim that prototype as a source for having the curtains/compartmens all on one side. Cheers!

[@GrahamFoulston]

Excellent Richard and thanks for confirming that, that will make my life easier having to try and explain things on why I have coaches set a certain way. Thank you sir. 👍🏻. Cheers. ……….Graham

[@richardsweeney197]

@@GrahamFoulston a pleasure!

[@ModelRailwayShed]

Great video Graham very informative 👍

[@GrahamFoulston]

Thank you sir and I’m glad you found it of interest. 👍🏻. Cheers. …………Graham

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Great job making the consist on z21. Ive tried several times: doing all the speed tests, inputting the data, creating a consist train, adding locos, checking orientation only to have the motors fighting each other, so I stopped. Your video might just give me the incentive to have another go. I love Z21, I have two, as you know and wouldn't switch to anything else, but for me, consisting has been a real headache. Thanks Graham for doing this.

[@GrahamFoulston]

Hi John, I have done a few consists before using the Z21 and like you, had various successes and failures (never found out why some failed though( but this was the first time I had three rather than two motors in a consist and luckily for me it worked out ok first time! 👍🏻. It’s probably something to do with if there is an ‘R’ in the month if it will work or not! 😂😂. Give it another go John and see what happens, you maybe lucky next time! Cheers. ………..Graham

[@bigmonkey999888]

Hi Graham, “Happy with that” so you should be it’s brilliant, lol Steve

[@GrahamFoulston]

Thank you so much Steve, I sighed a big sigh of relief when that went round without any mishaps, loved the way it slowed down in a controlled manner coming into the station - perfect! 👍🏻. Cheers. ………….Graham

[@Proper_Chuffed]

Very useful Graham, thanks for this! I just got a Z21 and am learning to use it, this was very helpful! :)

[@GrahamFoulston]

Well that’s excellent that you found this useful and I’m pleased about that. Enjoy your Z21 because it’s a great controller and in my opinion is one of the better controllers out there at the moment - but that is just my opinion. 👍🏻. Cheers. ………..Graham

[@2010ditta]

Well done Graham, very nice.

[@GrahamFoulston]

Thank you my friend and much appreciated too. Cheers. …………Graham

[@barryturner2916]

That must be one of the beauties of having DCC, well done Graham. Remember I always go by the number one rule so if people don’t like it tough lol. Take care regards Barry.

[@GrahamFoulston]

Hi Barry, I think there is a misconception among DC users that DCC is just to have sound on locos but that couldn’t be further from the truth in my case. Yes I do have some locos fitted with sound but I’ve found that I don’t have the sound on for long periods of time as I find it annoying after a while. But DCC offers so much more especially in the running of the trains and general interaction on the layout itself, I certainly wouldn’t go back to DC but I fully understand why some folk vehemently stick to DC - that’s their choice so that is fine by me, not wrong or right, just a choice pure and simple. 👍🏻. Cheers. …………..Graham

[@barryturner2916]

@@GrahamFoulston Hi Graham fully understand and agree with comment on DCC, the problem I have is that I have 50 plus diesel and electric loco's and it is the cost for me to convert over with chips, controller etc..👌

[@GrahamFoulston]

@@barryturner2916 I fully understand Barry, it would be hugely expensive for you to convert over to DCC now but if you are happy with operating your layout in DC then why bother with DCC, just carry on enjoying what you have my friend. 👍🏻.

[@glynwilliams485]

like the layout and your new train graham happy new year

[@GrahamFoulston]

Many thanks Glyn and a happy New Year to you too! 👍🏻. Cheers. …………Graham

[@davidstrains4910]

A good video here Graham.

[@GrahamFoulston]

Thank you David and much appreciated too. Cheers. …………Graham

[@odenviking]

i like your layout it is nicely done. 👍👍👍👍🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

[@GrahamFoulston]

What a great comment, thank you! 👍🏻. Cheers. …………Graham

[@odenviking]

You are welcome. 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

[@FarlandHowe]

Surely this was not your first Z21 consist? They are a bit tedious with all the timing and speeds sets but once done they do work beautifully. The work of the passengers is what I really admire. cheers, Graham.

[@GrahamFoulston]

Hi Rob, no this wasn’t my first consist using the Z21 but I never said it was, but this is the first time I have shown how to set it up as I thought a few folk would be interested in seeing how it was done, that’s all. Cheers. …………Graham

[@roystrains]

Good info, I do have the Z21 controller but as yet have not used that feature but handy to know how it's done should I decide to. Thanks and Happy New Year to you and your family.

[@GrahamFoulston]

Thank you Roy, we’ll I guess if you have never needed to do a consist then I can fully understand why you have never needed to use this feature, I must admit that I hardly ever use it either but in this case it was almost essential to use it at it was virtually impossible to control all three motors individually as you can imagine so a consist was the natural way to go for me. Happy New Year to you and your family too my friend and take care. Cheers. …………Graham

[@ChapelEndJunctionUK]

I thought you were running it as a consist last time , they do run well . I use the sound on one unit on my consist which comes across ok ...........Peter

[@GrahamFoulston]

Hi Peter and if you thought I was using a consist last time then it must have been convincing then! 😂. It was really difficult trying to control all three individual motors together at the same time so a consist was essential. Yes, sound will also come across too in a consist, all you are doing is trying to sync the speeds of all three motors, everything else stays the same. Cheers. …………Graham

[@jakenot8859]

Hi. Just came across this video. When you did the timing did you start with speed 0 at the marker or did you let the loco start earlier to reach max speed at that speedstep at the marker (platform edge)? Because the CV value for acceleration may be different. I tried max speed at the beginning but for the locos I tried the acceleration is way different. Do you know of any Roco manuals for this?

[@harpinson]

Use the P word more. It really annoys my Mrs so I use it all the time 😂